She’s a mystery …
When a litter of fluffy tuxedo kittens recently arrived at PAWS Chicago, one little sibling stood out from the rest—quite literally.
Unlike her furry brothers and sisters, this tiny kitten, affectionately named Craisin, had almost no hair. Aside from a faint dusting of peach fuzz on her wrinkled skin and a pair of delicate gray sideburns, she was completely bald. And from the moment rescuers laid eyes on her, they were smitten.
Craisin and her siblings came from a home overwhelmed with cats—over 30, in fact. PAWS Chicago has been gradually welcoming them into their care.
“We’ve taken in 12 so far—one adult and 11 kittens,” Allison Wunder, senior digital media manager at PAWS Chicago, told The Dodo. “Craisin is the only hairless one, which was definitely a surprise to us!”
Hairlessness in cats can stem from a genetic mutation in the KRT71 gene, which is responsible for breeds like the Sphynx. Some social media followers have even speculated that Craisin might be a Lykoi, or “wolf cat,” known for their unique, patchy coats. However, her baldness might not be genetic at all—stress could be a factor, meaning her fur may eventually grow back.
For now, like most hairless cats, Craisin is extra sensitive to temperature. She often sports a tiny sweater and hat fashioned from a cut-up sock to stay warm. But her favorite source of heat? Her fluffier siblings.
“She’s a total snuggler,” Wunder said. “She prefers to mooch warmth from her furrier brothers and sisters. We usually find her burrowed underneath one of them.”
Despite her unique look, Craisin fits in seamlessly. She keeps up with her siblings during their playful wrestling matches—though she’s a bit more laid-back than the rest. “They’re a little wilder than she is,” Wunder added. “But they don’t treat her any differently.”
Craisin has already stolen plenty of hearts, but she and her siblings are still searching for their perfect forever homes. PAWS Chicago encourages anyone in the area interested in adopting to visit their website for more information.
No matter what the future holds for Craisin, one thing’s for sure—she’ll never be short on love, warmth, or cuddles.